South African judge to hear Ganguly case

The International Cricket Council on Tuesday appointed Justice Albie Sachs to hear the Board of Control for Cricket in India case regarding the process used to deal with captain Sourav Ganguly's appeal under the ICC Code of Conduct.

Justice Sachs will sit as the sole member of an ICC Disputes Resolution Committee. In the coming days the South African Constitutional Court judge will consider the format and time frame of the hearing.

Sachs will deal with a number of technical issues raised by the BCCI in relation to the process by which the charge and appeal were heard, an ICC statement said.

Ganguly was banned for six One-Day Internationals following the team's slow over-rate during the home series against Pakistan in April.

His appeal against the ban was turned down by ICC Appeals Commissioner Michael Beloff.

Ganguly requested for an oral hearing but Beloff ruled that arguments presented in text were enough to make a judgment.

The ICC Code of Conduct states, "The decision of the Appeals Commissioner shall be final and binding."

The terms of reference for the Disputes Resolution Committee state: "Unless the Disputes Committee determines otherwise, the procedure shall comprise written submissions from the parties and, if the Disputes Committee deems it appropriate, an oral hearing."

Justice Sachs is South Africa's nominated representative on the ICC Code of Conduct Commission. His decision will be final and binding on the parties.